GB633549A - Improvements in apparatus for sterilizing and subsequently cooling food - Google Patents

Abstract

633,549. Sterilizing and cooling closed food - containers. AKTIESELSKAPET KVAERNER BRUG. May 29, 1946, No: 16292. Convention date, June 23, 1945. [Classes 49 and 81(i)] In apparatus for sterilizing and subsequently cooling closed food-containers comprising an autoclave and a container into which hot sterilizing water is forced by conveying cooling water under pressure to the autoclave upon completion of the sterilizing process, the autoclave and hot water container are arranged co-axially and built together in a unit by connection of their shells around their circumferences, the opposite end walls of the autoclave and hot water container being situated at some distance one from the other so that an intermediate insulation compartment is formed between them. As shown. an intermediate air-insulation compartment 3 is formed between an autoclave 1 and a hot water container 2 by the extension of their shells beyond the end walls 4, 5 respectively. Steam supplied through a pipe 11 passes into pipe 13 and thence to the autoclave 1 for heating purposes, into pipe 15 and thence to the hot water container 2 for heating purposes, and into a pipe 17 and through stop valve 18 and reducing valve 19 into the hot water container 2, in order to maintain the required pressure in the autoclave 1 by means of an intercommunicating pipe 21. The pipe 21 may also serve to convey the hot sterilizing water from the autoclave 1 to the hot water container 2 on completion of the sterilizing process, the hot water being forced over by means of cooling water supplied through a pipe 22. During the last part of the cooling step a stop valve 24 in a pipe 25 is opened and a valve 23 is closed so that cooling water flows only through the autoclave. The autoclave may be emptied through a pipe 26, a valve 27 being closed and a valve 28 being opened.